Labor frontbench reshuffle: Joel Fitzgibbon and Kim Carr expected to be announced in Rudd ministry

Updated
Mon Jul 01 06:49:54 EST 2013

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will unveil his new-look ministry this morning, returning some of his key allies to the frontbench and shifting Gillard supporters from their current roles.

Key points

Rudd supporters Joel Fitzgibbon and Kim Carr promoted to frontbench

Tony Burke and Brendon O'Connor moved from environment and immigration portfolios

Anthony Albanese to get communications portfolio and head NBN rollout

Three women to be promoted to frontbench: Jacinta Collins, Julie Collins and Catherine King

The ABC has confirmed former chief government whip Joel Fitzgibbon will be named as agriculture minister, while Kim Carr will return to the industry and innovation portfolio.

Both men supported Mr Rudd in his efforts to return to the prime ministership.

Anthony Albanese, who has been promoted to Deputy Prime Minister, will take over the communications portfolio vacated by Senator Stephen Conroy last week.

Mr Albanese will keep his transport and infrastructure portfolios but will now be responsible for the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

Meanwhile, the ABC has been told Environment Minister Tony Burke and Immigration Minister Brendan O'Connor - both supporters of former prime minister Julia Gillard - will be moved from their portfolios.

Mr Burke was one of a number of ministers who verbally attacked Mr Rudd in February last year, accusing him of orchestrating a campaign that undermined Ms Gillard.

He intended not to serve in a reinstated Rudd government, however the new Prime Minister rejected his resignation offer after last week's leadership spill.

Mr Burke will be handed the immigration portfolio, while Mr O'Connor will take employment, skills and training.

Mark Butler will shift from mental health and ageing to climate change and environment.

The Prime Minister has a number of positions to fill after more than a third of the Cabinet resigned following his leadership coup, which was crafted in a bid to lift Labor's hopes of winning the next election.

According to the latest Newspoll out today, Mr Rudd has a commanding lead over Tony Abbott as preferred prime minister and Labor's primary vote at a six-month high.

The ALPs' primary vote is up 6 per cent from 29 to 35 per cent after Mr Rudd was returned to power, with the Coalition's primary vote down from 48 to 43 per cent.

The figures suggest Labor would still lose the election if one was held today, but a catastrophic loss would be averted.

Women to get frontbench promotions

Labor announced yesterday that three women would be promoted to the frontbench: Victorian senator Jacinta Collins and MPs Julie Collins and Catherine King.

Senator Collins will become the minister for mental health, Ms King will be promoted to the regional Australia portfolio, and Ms Collins will enter Cabinet with the portfolio for housing, homeless and status of women.

Meanwhile, West Australian MP Melissa Parke will move to the outer ministry, taking on the international development and aid portfolio.

The promotions mean there will be more women serving in the Rudd Cabinet than any previous.

Mr Rudd will make the official announcement in Newcastle later this morning.

The new line up will be sworn in by the Governor-General at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra at 2pm (AEST).